The evolution of multicellular complexity: the role of relatedness and environmental constraints

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
Roberta M FisherJacobus J Boomsma

Abstract

A major challenge in evolutionary biology has been to explain the variation in multicellularity across the many independently evolved multicellular lineages, from slime moulds to vertebrates. Social evolution theory has highlighted the key role of relatedness in determining multicellular complexity and obligateness; however, there is a need to extend this to a broader perspective incorporating the role of the environment. In this paper, we formally test Bonner's 1998 hypothesis that the environment is crucial in determining the course of multicellular evolution, with aggregative multicellularity evolving more frequently on land and clonal multicellularity more frequently in water. Using a combination of scaling theory and phylogenetic comparative analyses, we describe multicellular organizational complexity across 139 species spanning 14 independent transitions to multicellularity and investigate the role of the environment in determining multicellular group formation and in imposing constraints on multicellular evolution. Our results, showing that the physical environment has impacted the way in which multicellular groups form, highlight that environmental conditions might have affected the major evolutionary transition to obl...Continue Reading

Associated Datasets

References

Mar 1, 1983·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·L W Buss
Feb 20, 2003·Anatomy and Embryology·Ana Alice D SantosConceição R S Machado
Sep 16, 2003·Statistics in Medicine·Vito M R Muggeo
Sep 15, 2004·Developmental Cell·Nicole King
Nov 4, 2004·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·J T Bonner
Apr 4, 2006·The Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology·Hiroki Sugimoto, Hiroshi Endoh
Oct 20, 2006·Nature·Timothy Y JamesRytas Vilgalys
Oct 28, 2006·Science·Pauline SchaapSandra L Baldauf
Feb 28, 2008·Allergy and Asthma Proceedings·Michael S Blaiss
Jan 6, 2009·The New Phytologist·John BeardallJohn A Raven
Aug 21, 2009·Molecular Biology and Evolution·Matthew W BrownJeffrey D Silberman
Oct 1, 2009·Current Biology : CB·Jason E StajichJohn W Taylor
Apr 28, 2011·FEMS Microbiology Reviews·Stefan Brückner, Hans-Ulrich Mösch
May 23, 2012·Current Biology : CB·Matthew W BrownAndrew J Roger
Jun 12, 2013·Current Biology : CB·Roberta M FisherStuart A West
Oct 18, 2014·Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology·James G Umen
May 6, 2015·Bioinformatics·Emily Jane McTavishStephen A Smith
May 13, 2015·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Stuart A WestE Toby Kiers
Mar 5, 2016·The Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology·Alexander K TiceMatthew W Brown
Nov 4, 2016·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Birgitte RegenbergJacobus J Boomsma
Feb 9, 2017·Nature Communications·Tu Anh NguyenGregory Jedd
May 17, 2017·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Jacobus J Boomsma, Richard Gawne
Aug 3, 2017·Biodiversity Data Journal·Jonathan A Rees, Karen Cranston
Apr 21, 2018·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·László G NagyKrisztina Krizsán
May 29, 2018·Nature Ecology & Evolution·Guy A Cooper, Stuart A West
Sep 5, 2019·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·R M Fisher, B Regenberg
Sep 11, 2019·Nature Communications·Enikő KissLászló G Nagy

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

May 21, 2021·Ecology Letters·David MouillotArnaud Auber
Jun 12, 2021·Current Genetics·Pedro Márquez-ZacaríasWilliam C Ratcliff

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

R
MCMCglmm
R package ‘ rotl
segmented ’
Volvox
Open Tree of Life (
Google Scholar

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
Roberta M Fisher, Birgitte Regenberg
Current Genetics
Pedro Márquez-ZacaríasWilliam C Ratcliff
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved